Terms & Conditions

1.

PLUGIN, the ‘Collaborative Incubation cum Acceleration Program for Hardware & Systems Startups’ (Program) is a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, Intel Technology India Pvt Ltd (Intel India), and Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) (collectively referred as “Organisers” or "Program Partners").
SINE will be responsible for implementing the Program.

2. Highlights :

• Duration: 1- year

• Focus: Hardware and system startups with vertical and horizontal technology focus more particularly mentioned below

d. Mentoring & coaching:
• Intensive bootcamp module at the start of the program
• Expert sessions on business & technology development aspects throughout the program
• Mentoring from experts from Intel, SINE and other domain experts for relevant platforms, products & solutions.
• One-on-one business and technical mentoring in addition to in-house support.

f. Testing & product certification support:
• Introduction to partners to conduct field trials for real time usage of the products/solutions to get relevant feedback
• Training, mentoring and introductions for product certification

h. Visibility and demo day:
• Opportunities to showcase products in various events, including a demo day for pitching to investors, industry experts, mentors etc.

i. Post program support:
• Continued technical and business advisory support
• Mentoring
• Business and investors connections
• Funding on selective basis

5. Program phases :

The 1-year Program will have following phases starting from June 2018 and concluding on June 2019. (Dates may change due to the circumstances beyond control of the Organisers, however the format of the Program will remain unchanged).

a. Application phase: Nationwide application phase will be open from 22nd June 2018 to 22nd July 2018.

b. Selection: Up to top 50 teams will be chosen for evaluation by a jury of experts in Bengaluru, out of which up to top 30 teams will be selected for an initial 3-4 day bootcamp.

c. Bootcamp: Out of the teams that go through the bootcamp, up to 15 teams will be selected for full program benefits. Selected teams will be given 3-4 weeks to complete company registration (if not already done) and program formalities including execution of the Agreement with SINE and Intel to receive full program benefits. Any of the selected teams failing to register the company or complete program formalities will be dropped from the program. Organisers may invite one or more teams from non-selected group to replace the teams dropped from the program.

d. Program support: Selected companies will receive cash grant, support in prototyping, international visit and linkages, product refinement, manufacturing, business model validation, and commercialization, as applicable. There will be coaching sessions by industry experts, one-on-one mentors, and feedback from industry partners/investors.

6. Eligibility and evaluation parameters are as follows including but not limited to the following:

Eligibility :

a. Promoters of hardware and systems-based startups with technologies such as:

- Artificial Intelligence-Machine Learning (AI-ML)

- Blockchain

- Internet of Things (IoT)

in the domains of Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail and Transportation.

b. Technology Proof-of-concept or prototype ready.

c. The Program is open to teams and incorporated startups in India:

• Applicants should be at least 18 years of age on 1st of January, 2018
• Majority of founding team members should be resident of India.
• Teams with technology readiness at Proof-of-concept or prototype level can apply. However, preference will be given to incorporated startups at the time of admission. In case of startups, company incorporation must be on or after 1st January 2014.
• Selected teams would need to form a private limited company (if not already incorporated) at the time of selection, to avail full program benefits.

d. Startups must have high potential to scale (i.e. have IP and/or a clear competitive advantage addressing a large potential market).

e. The following persons are not eligible to participate in the Program:

• An employee of Intel
• A member or employee of SINE
• An employee/member of Department of Science and Technology
• A member of the Evaluation panel, Mentoring panel, or Jury for the Program

Evaluation :

Selection of final participants will be based on criteria such as strength of IP or technology, market opportunity, scalability of product/business, uniqueness of business proposition, and team strength. Synergy with Intel technologies will be an added advantage for evaluation process.

7. Application process:

To participate in the Program, the participant must complete and submit the application form :

a. Online application with in a prescribed format to be duly completed, along with a link to an online video/photo of the product or prototype, and submitted on or before 11:59 pm IST on 22nd July 2018. Online application will be available at the following link: www.plugin.org.in (“Program website”).

b. Participants should not include technical details to the extent that might affect their ability to protect their Intellectual Property (IP) rights.

c. Incomplete applications will not be considered for review process.

d. On successful submission of application, participant will receive a confirmation email.

e. The submission must comply with the requirements as set out in the Guidelines mentioned on the online Application form.

f. Correspondence: Any correspondence from the Program to participant will be by phone calls, email or text message on the mobile number provided by the participant at time of registration. Organizers are not liable in case of email or text message delivery failures.

h. Organizers are under no obligation to entertain any application received after the last date of applications.

i. Only applications submitted via application form will be considered. Applications via email will not be considered.

8. Participant Obligations :

Participant agrees to:

a. Provide factually correct details while filling application form, and not to hide any material information that has bearing on reviewers’ judgement for selection.

b. Participate in the activities proposed under the Program in accordance with the schedule delivered at the end of selection process.

c. Limit number of members to 2 per company to participate in the program.

d. Provide information to SINE about fundraising, jobs created and general business development for up to 3 years after the end of the Program.

e. Authorize the Organizers to use the startup’s name and project name in promotional materials of current and future Programs.

f. Agree not to participate in the Program in any manner that might infringe on any third-party proprietary, IP, industrial property or other rights, including but without limitation, copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or confidentiality obligation.

g. Agree to transfer 2% equity to SINE as one of the organizers, at start of the program for availing full program benefits. Companies having raised angel/VC investment more than INR 2Cr, the program benefits, terms and conditions may be modified at the discretion of the program organisers. Any additional funding will be subject to additional equity or convertible equity.

h. Agree for SINE to collect the team and the startup’s personal information necessary for managing the Program.

9. Intellectual Property (IP):

a. Organizers do not claim ownership over the applications submitted or any new IP developed by the participants during the Program. However, by submitting an application, participant grants the Organizers rights to publish participants name or alias in connection with this Program.

b. Originality: Applicants claiming the idea, technology as original or patentable or patented, should be able to produce the documentary evidence to that effect. Further, they have to declare that they are not infringing the IP owned by a third party.

c. Third party technology: If an idea has been patented by, or is the property of, a third party, the originator of the idea must agree through a legally enforceable instrument to the use of the idea by the applicant and must be expressly credited in the Idea / Business Summary, Demo Pitch and Business Plan.

d. Participant must be able to answer questions as to IP from the Evaluation Panel at screening phase, Investment Committee and Demo day Jury. If the Evaluation Panel, Investment Committee, Jury, Organizers feel that the spirit of Program has been violated, Organizers through SINE retains the right to disqualify the entry.

10. Eligibility to funds :

Program will offer cash support, seed funds / equity investments. However, Organisers may apply discretion in release of funds for specific reasons or under specific circumstances.

11. Participation in program :

Participation in coaching and training program is mandatory for receiving full program benefits, international visits, and participation in Demo day. Two members from each team selected for the Program will be permitted participation in various events, training, coaching during the Program. As the companies will be provided with upfront cash support post admission and due diligence, the cost of stay and related costs will be borne by the selected teams.

12.

International travel and stay for one member per team will be sponsored by the program.

13. Post program support :

Post program funding support will be on case to case basis. Access to further funding under post program support is subject to going through the entire Program, and progress made by the selected companies. Organizers will review the progress before making an investment decision.

14. Participants represent, warrant and covenant that the application does not :

a. Infringe on any third party IP rights and further do not violate any confidentiality obligations of the Participant;

b. Contain any software or programming code subject to any restrictions or third-party limitations without prior written notice to Organizers;

c. Contain any viruses, worms, spyware, other components or instructions that are malicious, deceptive or designed to limit or harm the functionality of a computer or hack in to database;

d. Include any Participant owned trade secrets or third party trade secrets (No such trade secrets will be required by Organizers to evaluate the applications);

e. Contain material that may be considered as defamatory, libelous, hateful, racially or religiously biased or offensive, threatening or harassing to any individual, partnership or corporation; and

f. Violate any statutory provisions.

15.

Participant shall not assign any rights, obligations or privileges (by operation of law or otherwise) hereunder to a third party without the prior written consent of Organizers. Organizers may assign its rights or obligations to any DST agency or SINE or Intel affiliate.

Except as otherwise set forth herein, any attempt by Participants to assign any of the rights, duties or obligations hereunder without Organizers' prior written consent will be null and void. Subject to the foregoing, these terms and conditions shall be fully binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.

a. Any costs incurred or loss or liability suffered by the participant in relation to the Program;

b. Any loss in expectation of profits or benefits by participant

c. Any failure by participant to understand the rights in relation to IP, or the rights of the Organizers, supporting organizations or any third party in relation to IP; or

d. Any other benefit the participant may expect to gain by participating in the Program

17. Confidentiality :

a. Members of the Jury, Advisors and Mentors will be appointed on the basis that they will not be disclosing or using any details of the participants, or Ideas or any other information submitted in connection with the Program, except in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, and in their capacity as member of Evaluation Panel/Mentor/Jury/Advisor.

b. Organizers cannot accept any responsibility for the actions of any evaluation panel member, Mentor or member of the Jury for their obligations in respect of confidentiality.

c. Organizers will not sign any Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the applicants at the application stage. While every effort will be made to preserve the confidentiality of each submission, it is suggested that highly sensitive material be excluded from the entry if a team is concerned about the confidentiality of such material. Note, however, that finalist teams will be making brief presentations to a Jury and an audience. All reasonable measures to ensure the protection of IP of Business Summary, Demo Pitch and Business Plans received for the Program will be taken. Protection of such rights is however, ultimately the responsibility of each participant.

d. All the information received during this Program including but not limited to scores, business plan summaries etc shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person or entity by any party thereto and cannot be disclosed outside the Program organizers, supporting organizations as mentioned on www.plugin.org.in and Jury and Investment Committee as constituted by Organizers and its supporting organizations

e. No Use - The Organizers and supporting organizations agree not to use the Confidential Information to manufacture / give service or test any product embodying Confidential Information received during this Program

f. No Disclosure - The Organizers and supporting organizations agree to use reasonable efforts to prevent and protect the Confidential Information including but not limited to scores, business plan summaries etc., or any part thereof, from disclosure to any person.

g. Protection of Secrecy - The Organizers and supporting organizations agree to take all steps reasonably necessary to protect the secrecy of the Confidential Information, and to prevent the Confidential Information from falling into the public domain or into the possession of unauthorized persons.

18. Disclaimer :

Organizers assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries. Organizers are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or telephone lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any application to be received by SINE on account of technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to Participant's or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation in this Program or downloading any materials of this Program. Organizers are not responsible for applications not received due to lost, failed, delayed or interrupted connections or miscommunications, or other electronic malfunctions. Organizers are not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information, whether caused by participants, any other persons or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Program.

19.

Participant agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold the Organizers, members of Evaluation Panel, Selected Jury, Mentoring Panel, Advisors, supporting organizations harmless against any loss, cost, liability, and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from any action or claim brought or threatened against the Organizers, or members of Evaluation Panel, Selected Jury, Mentoring Panel, Advisors, supporting organizations or its customers alleging that any of the applications submitted, shortlisted and or selected, infringe any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, or other IP rights of any third party, and or if the Organizers, or members of Evaluation Panel, Selected Jury, Mentoring Panel, Advisors, supporting organizations suffers any injury, loss or damages by breach of the warranties above. Organizers agree to provide Participant (s) with :

a. Prompt written notice of such claim or action,

b. The opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of such claim or action, provided, however, that Participant(s) will not without prior written consent of the Organizers settle or compromise any claim in a manner that does not unconditionally release the Organizers and that may adversely affect the Organizers' rights under this terms & Conditions; and

c. Reasonable information and assistance in the defense and/or settlement any such claim or action. Organizers shall have the right to participate in any of the disputes or actions referenced above at its own expense. Participant(s) will not be responsible for any costs, expenses or compromise incurred or made by Organizers without Participant(s) prior written consent.

20.

Organizers may change the Terms and Conditions of participation at any time without prior notice. The amended Terms and Conditions will be effective immediately upon being posted on the website. Important changes to the Terms and Conditions may be highlighted on the website www.plugin.org.in for participant's convenience; however, participant acknowledges that it is participant's sole responsibility to regularly visit the website to read any changes to the Terms and Conditions of the Program.

21.

Program terms and conditions are not customisable for any startup.

22.

Notwithstanding the above, the terms and conditions as in the agreements to be executed with the SINE and the selected companies will be final and binding upon SINE and the selected companies.

23.

Organizers or any of the supporting organizations will not incur any costs for participants participating in the Program nor entertain any claims for the same.

24.

Taxes: The participant is solely responsible for any taxes, duties, charges or levies payable in connection with any funding (including any grants or investments) received in connection with the Program.

25. Termination :

Organizers may at any time :

a. Disqualify a participant from the Program for breach of any terms & conditions of the Program; or

b. Discontinue the Program by posting a notice to that effect on the Website

c. Disputes, if any, are subject to the jurisdiction in the courts of Mumbai only.